Pollinator Party

     With all the rains in the Red Hills this year, the prairie wildflower show is spectacular. And all the pollinator insects are enjoying this bonanza. Many different insects are attracted to nectar from these flowers. They include butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, and beetles but sometimes there are other visitors as well. Come to the Red Hills for this wonderful, natural exhibit of plant and animal life. 

Lots of insects love Lemon Beebalm but none more than bumblebees.

These recently emerged Widow Skimmer dragonflies are not
pollinators but decided to hang out on some Blue Wild Indigo.
(Thanks Roy Beckemeyer for the ID.)

A Variegated Fritillary butterfly loves on the
Butterfly Milkweed.

A Checkered White Butterfly also enjoys
Butterfly Milkweed with the Variegated Fritillary.

These scarab flower beetles are also important pollinators.
Even this Wavy-leaf Thistle has plenty to offer.

A Regal Fritillary Butterfly perches on a Common Milkweed. Milkweeds
are very important food sources for Monarchs and other butterflies.

The scarab beetles also love the
Prickly Pear Cactus flowers.

Several butterflies mob this Leadplant.

This Orange Sulfur Butterfly nectars on
Plains Sunflower. 

A Variegated Fritillary likes Plains Sunflowers too.

Lots of insects use and pollinate Plains
Sunflowers including Painted Lady Butterflies.

This pretty true bug (Hemipteran) is
Apiomerus spissipes. Not sure if it has
a common name. Feel free to offer one.

This Flowerloving Longhorn beetle is doing as its name implies.
Prairie Coneflowers are very showy this year.

     For more information about native, pollinator plants, visit the Kansas Native Plant Society website 
(www.kansasnativeplantsociety.org) and its excellent Facebook page.